Moran moved to Australia with his family as a 15-year-old,
looking to pursue a career in rugby. One of his school friends
encouraged him to try Aussie Rules with the Surfers Paradise AFC
juniors, where he was mentored by former Brisbane Bears captain Roger Merrett. He
took to the game quickly and developed a passion for it. His high
school, The Southport School had a policy
against Australian Football being part of its curriculum, so he had
to remain playing club football and instead also played rowing and basketball at school.

Moran quickly showed ability and talent in the ruck. He broke
his wrist leading up to the Under 18 national championships, which
set back his recruitment. However, after playing football with the
Southport Sharks, at age 18 he was
recruited to the elite level by the Kangaroos Football Club in the 2004 AFL
Draft.[2]

AFL
career

Wearing the famous number 18 guernsey, made famous by Kangaroos
legend Wayne Carey,
Moran made his debut in 2006 against Hawthorn at Aurora Stadium. He played an effective game
in one of the Roos' worst performances of the season. He collected
21 disposals, 10 marks and 10 hitouts, which earned a nomination
for the AFL Rising Star
Award. He continued his good form into next week against Collingwood, where the Roos were
comprehensively beaten in the second half.

Moran was traded to the Adelaide Football Club at the end of the
2007 Premiership season. He took up the number 2 guernsey, which
was also previously worn by Carey during his brief stint at the
Crows.[3] After
injuries ruined the first half of his 2008 season, he played his
first game for the Crows in round 16 and impressed as a tall
defender and ruckman, thereafter becoming a fixture in the lineup.
When moved into the forward line against Carlton in round 18 to
cover the loss of Jason Porplyzia, Moran booted four
goals for the game to help the Crows to an eight-point victory,
thus adding another string to his bow as a utility.

In 2009 Moran quickly became a regular in the Adelaide side,
forming a ruck combination with Ivan Maric. However, midway through the
season he injured his knee, which will keep him out for most, if
not all, of the remainder of the season.

International
Qualification

In 2008, although Moran was eligible to represent Great Britain at
the 2008 Australian
Football International Cup (the criteria at the time allowed
him to as he had moved to Australia as a teenager), he was
deliberately overlooked by the national
team[4] because
he did not learn the game in England. However Moran is keen to see
the sport grow in his former home and is an ambassador for Aussie Rules International,
appearing in an England Dragonslayers guernsey for its junior
league promotions.